Transportation
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Chapter Title: Transportation Contents Chapter Title: Transportation .................................................................................................................... 1 Transportation Goals and Policies ........................................................................................................... 2 Summary of Regional Transportation Goals ...................................................................................... 2 Minnetonka Goals and Policies ............................................................................................................ 2 Existing and Anticipated Roadway Capacity .......................................................................................... 6 Table 1: Planning Level Roadway Capacities by Facility Type ................................................... 6 Level of Service (LOS) .............................................................................................................................. 7 Table 2: Level of Service Definitions ............................................................................................... 7 Transit System Plan ................................................................................................................................... 8 Existing Transit Services and Facilities .............................................................................................. 8 Table 3. Transit Market Areas .......................................................................................................... 9 Figure 1. Transit System Connectivity ......................................................................................... 11 Fixed-Route Transit Bus Service .................................................................................................. 12 Table 4. Existing Transit Routes ................................................................................................... 13 Metro Mobility ................................................................................................................................... 15 Park-And-Rides ............................................................................................................................... 15 Transit Advantages ......................................................................................................................... 15 Transit Programs ................................................................................................................................. 16 Transit Strategies ............................................................................................................................ 16 Travel Demand Management ........................................................................................................ 17 Future Transit System ........................................................................................................................ 18 Local Public Transit Services ........................................................................................................ 18 Southwest LRT ................................................................................................................................ 18 Land Use Planning .......................................................................................................................... 19 Improved Travel Demand Management ...................................................................................... 19 Existing Freight System ...................................................................................................................... 21 Freight Generators .............................................................................................................................. 21 Heavy Commercial Vehicle Volumes ............................................................................................... 22 Safety and Capacity Issues ............................................................................................................... 22 DRAFT – Transportation – Page 1 Improvement Projects ......................................................................................................................... 22 Future Considerations ........................................................................................................................ 23 Figure 2. Freight System Connectivity ......................................................................................... 24 Aviation ..................................................................................................................................................... 25 Height and Safety Zoning .................................................................................................................. 25 Heliports ................................................................................................................................................ 25 Float/Seaplanes ................................................................................................................................... 25 Roadway System Plan.............................................................................................(under review) Transportation Goals and Policies Summary of Regional Transportation Goals Guidance for the development of the Transportation Plan is provided by the Metropolitan Council’s 2040 Transportation Policy Plan (TPP). The Metropolitan Council’s TPP includes six major themes that address regional transportation: Transportation System Stewardship. Provide sustainable investments in the transportation system which are protected by strategically preserving, maintaining, and operating system assets. Safety and Security. Ensure the regional transportation system is safe and secure for all users. Access to Destinations. Allow people and businesses to prosper by using a reliable, affordable, and efficient multimodal transportation system that connects them to destinations throughout the region and beyond. Competitive Economy. Ensure the regional transportation system supports the economic competitiveness, vitality, and prosperity of the region and state. Healthy Environments. Confirm the regional transportation system advances equity and contributes to communities’ livability and sustainability while protecting the natural, cultural, and developed environments. Levering Transportation Investments to Guide Land Use. Leverage the region’s transportation investments to guide land use and development patterns that advance the regional vision of stewardship, prosperity, livability, equity, and sustainability. Minnetonka Goals and Policies To respond to the above themes as well as to serve economic activities and improve the quality of life within Minnetonka, the city has adopted transportation goals and policies. These were developed in concert with the overall comprehensive plan goals and policies and include: Goal 1. Provide a safe, convenient, effective, and integrated transportation system. Policy 1.1 Treat all modes of transportation and related facilities as one integrated system to be coordinated and developed with other partners and stakeholders. DRAFT – Transportation – Page 2 Policy 1.2 Provide and improve facilities for all users, encouraging safe design and mitigating accidents, especially with pedestrians and bicyclists, who are the most vulnerable users of the transportation system. Policy 1.3 Consider traffic control improvements where appropriate to accommodate roadway capacity and reduce delay. Policy 1.4 Collaborate with other agencies for local and regional transportation improvements and programs to lessen the impacts of congestion and provide the most effective transportation system for the city. Policy 1.5 Prioritize investments in A-minor arterials that build, manage, or improve the system’s ability to supplement the capacity of the principal arterial system. Goal 2. Encourage appropriate “traffic calming” techniques within and near residential neighborhoods that are impacted by congestion and excessive traffic volumes and/or speeds. Policy 2.1 Consider traffic-calming measures to discourage through traffic on local streets. Policy 2.2 Encourage design of all local residential streets to prevent penetration by through traffic, and properly direct traffic to collector or arterial streets. Policy 2.3 Support regional roadway improvements to reduce local roadway traffic levels, which otherwise belong on the regional system. Policy 2.4 Manage the impact of new development upon the local transportation system and encourage the use of Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and other traffic management techniques. Goal 3. Encourage, with other government agencies, the expansion of multimodal and transit services in the city to support resident and business transportation needs. Policy 3.1 Promote public transit that serves all residents and provides special transit services for commuters and diverse populations. Policy 3.2 Support regional transit initiatives such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Commuter Rail. Policy 3.3 Create ways to improve connections within Minnetonka by providing an interconnected transit system and ways for those without a car to move around Minnetonka freely and easily. Policy 3.4 Promote telecommuting and flex scheduling to reduce traffic. Policy 3.5 Identify or develop additional park-and-ride lots throughout the city to encourage transit ridership. DRAFT – Transportation